Like many of us, former Modesto City Councilman Bruce Frohman has noticed that labels like “conservative” and “liberal” don’t really apply to today’s politicians and issues. Here, Frohman looks at Congressman Jeff Denham through the lens of the traditional conservative and decides that Jeff Denham isn’t really very conservative at all. Congressman Jeff Denham is a very nice fellow. He smiles a lot and has a charismatic personality. When one […]
Politics
LAFCO: Longest Rehearsal in Regional History Continues
The Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) is a government agency charged with protecting farmland and preventing sprawl. In places like Ventura, Yolo, and Sonoma Counties, LAFCO has played a major role in establishing firm boundaries to protect farmland from urban encroachment. Things are different here in Stanislaus County. “We haven’t done a very good job,” said LAFCO board member Jim DeMartini, who is also a Stanislaus County Supervisor. DeMartini […]
Does the Modesto Bee Really Favor Federal Assistance for the Valley?
A recurring theme in Modesto Bee editorials over the years is the lack of assistance the San Joaquin Valley receives from our federal government. These editorials have always seemed ironic to those who’ve noticed the Bee’s consistent support for anti-government politicians like Jeff Denham. Now the Bee has a chance to show its readers where it really stands on federal assistance. Federally mandated restoration of the San Joaquin River will […]
Why Jeff Denham Must Go: Jose Hernandez for Congress
Jeff Denham must go. There are countless reasons why he must go, but they can be summed up in his unrelenting assault on public values and public resources. Once in Washington D.C., Denham became yet another point man for corporate America—one of his first acts as a newly elected congressman was an attack on the “Wild and Scenic” status of the Merced River. Denham’s latest effort is devoted to overturning […]
Marsh to Bee: "Get Scott Peterson Off the Front Page"
Making good on one of his campaign promises, Modesto Mayor Garrad Marsh held a town hall meeting in west Modesto Saturday, a concrete signal that he intends to be accessible to the entire city. Marsh said he plans to have at least three more such events around town. Marsh acknowledged that Modesto has an image problem, but reiterated his refrain that Modesto is a, “great town.” “We don’t need to […]
Discontent in the Central Valley: The pilfering of personal wealth by government and large corporations, by Bruce Frohman
The Occupy 99% and Tea Party movements were founded on the perception that the citizens of the United States are being systematically fleeced of their wealth by our country’s major institutions. Over time, these institutions are becoming more efficient and effective in extracting money and reducing personal wealth, impoverishing an ever larger percentage of the citizenry using unethical, fraudulent or corrupt behavior. In recent years, government at all levels has […]
99% Spring Movement Comes to Modesto
Saturday, April 28, a plucky band of Valley citizens participated in the “Love Modesto” event by protesting the injustice which enabled big bank executives to haul down millions of dollars in bonuses while their policies punished working people throughout the nation. The demonstrators assembled along the curb in front of the McHenry Avenue Bank of America, eliciting sporadic honks of support from a constant stream of passing cars. A local […]
Tragic Death of Sheriff's Deputy Robert Paris Reopens Discussion of Public Safety Budget, by Bruce Frohman
During his tenure as a Modesto City Councilman, Bruce Frohman was a strong supporter of law enforcement. Recent tragic deaths and shootings have focused attention on ongoing cuts to law enforcement services. Here, Frohman continues the dialog about the need for additional officers and staff. The entire community of Stanislaus County was shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic shooting of Sheriff Deputy Robert Paris in the line of duty. […]
Valley Leaders and Media AWOL on MID Water Sale
The more you look at the proposed Modesto Irrigation District (MID) water sale to San Francisco, the more apparent it becomes that MID manager Allen Short and his allies on the Board of Directors are engaging in a dangerous game of sleight of hand. The fundamental premise of the sale—that MID has water to sell—is so patently false as to make one wonder why the MID has dared voice it. […]
Political Calculus of the MID Water Sale
If there’s anything each of the members of the Modesto Irrigation District Board of Directors (MID) knows for sure, it’s that voters hate rate increases. This fact was painfully evident May 13, 2010, when an angry crowd packed the MID boardroom to protest a five dollar a month rate increase in their electrical bills. And if an angry crowd isn’t enough to discourage rate increases, the Directors also know that […]